Calories are an essential composition of every diet. They are especially vital for anyone who wants to add weight. Since the body is constant burning calories in order to get the energy needed for everyday living, a person who wants to gain weight needs to consume more calories that his or her body can use.
| Food description | Calories content |
| 8 oz yogurt | 140 |
| 8 oz Non-fat milk | 125 |
| 1 cup whole-wheat flour | 400 |
| 1 slice of toasted whole-meal bread | 70 |
| 1 loaf white bread | 1210 |
| 1 cup of diced and cooked turnips | 30 |
| 1 cup Tuna salad | 375 |
| 1 raw tomato | 25 |
| I middle-sized boiled sweet potato | 160 |
| 1 cup of white granulated sugar | 770 |
| 1 oz sweet and dark chocolate | 150 |
| 1 cup of firm cooked spaghetti | 190 |
| 1 roasted beef sandwich | 345 |
| 1 slice Pizza with cheese | 290 |
| 1 cup of fresh sliced pineapple | 75 |
| 1 cup raw oysters | 160 |
| 1 raw orange | 60 |
| 1 cup olive oil | 1910 |
| 1 loaf oatmeal bread | 1145 |
| 1 cup raw mushrooms | 20 |
| 1 cup honey | 1030 |
| 1 cup corn oil | 1925 |
| 1 raw carrot | 30 |
A person seeking to gain weight should identify his or her current calorie intake and aim at increasing that with at least 2,000 more calories daily. Care should however be taken to ensure that foods that contain unhealthy amounts of fats and cholesterol are not consumed during this time. Some recreational drinks such as beer and soft drinks should only be drunk in moderation. In fact, one should only take a maximum of two beers a day if he or she wants to avoid unhealthy weight gain.